The first footage of tests of the Russian mobile air defense system "Rapira-2" has been published. The "Rapira-2" system is mounted on the AMN-590951 "Spartak" multi-purpose armored vehicle and is designed to detect, track and neutralize small air targets, including drones. The "Rapira-2" air defense system is equipped with a PKTM machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber. An electro-optical system is used to track and target drones. The system has a thermal imager, electronic warfare and a laser rangefinder. The "Rapira-3" air defense system has also been created; it is equipped, presumably, with modified 80-mm S-8 missiles; the differences between these systems are minimal. The "Rapira" air defense system is capable of detecting drones at a range of up to 20 kilometers.
Footage has been published of the Russian Navy's Il-38N anti-submarine aircraft flying past the Sapphire Princess cruise liner. The liner belongs to the American cruise line Princess Cruises. The aircraft greeted the ship's passengers by shaking its wings. Technical information about the Il-38N aircraft is available on the channel. The video was most likely filmed over the Pacific Ocean.
Russian mechanics have restored a Ukrainian Kirpi armored personnel carrier, made in Turkey. The Kirpi armored vehicle was abandoned by a Ukrainian unit in the Kursk region of Russia after three wheels were damaged. During its evacuation by the Russian 83rd separate guards airborne assault brigade, the armored vehicle was attacked by a Ukrainian drone. Mechanics have restored the Kirpi armored personnel carrier, which is now used by Russian units. The Turkish Kirpi 4x4 armored vehicle was developed by the BMS company in 2009, technical information about it is in the link to the video in the comments to the video. Kirpi armored personnel carriers are well-rated by military experts and receive positive feedback in the Ukrainian army. Ukraine has received about two hundred Kirpi 4x4 armored vehicles, the main purpose of which is to transport personnel. Several captured Kirpi armored vehicles are reportedly already being used by the Russian army.
We publish footage of the production of the Russian loitering munition "KUB" by ZALA AERO. The drone "KUB" has been used since 2022, it was shown for the first time in 2019, it is still being produced despite the appearance of the drone "Lancet". The drone "KUB" is cheaper than the drone "Lancet", it is mainly equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with octogen. Due to its tactical and technical characteristics, the drone "KUB" demonstrates high efficiency in defeating enemy manpower. Now an automatic target designation system is being introduced at the final stage of the flight. The kamikaze drone "KUB" is constantly being upgraded, it is made of radio-absorbing materials. The exact characteristics of the drone "KUB" are difficult to name, since it is constantly being improved. Now it is known that the weight of the drone "KUB" is from 10 to 15 kg, the flight range already exceeds 50 km. The drone reaches speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour and carries a payload of 3 kg; the drone’s flight duration is 30 minutes.
Footage of the launch of the UMBP D-30SN guided aerial bombs by the Russian Su-34 aircraft has been published. The combat use of the UMBP D-30SN can be seen in the link in the comments to the video. The universal inter-service gliding munition UMBP D-30SN is something between a bomb and a classic missile. This is not a bomb with a UMPK, the inter-service munition D-30SN initially has a GLONASS/GPS guidance module and an in-air gliding system. It can be launched from both the Smerch MLRS and the Tornado-S MLRS at a range of up to 300-330 km.
The UMBP D-30SN guided bomb is based on the 250-kilogram FAB-250 high-explosive aerial bomb. The American analogue, the GBU-39 SDB guided bomb, has a larger caliber. The D-30SN bomb has a small effective reflective surface, making it harder for air defense to detect. The D-30SN has an effective scattering area of 0.05-0.07 square meters, while the FAB bomb with UMPK has an effective scattering area of 0.3 to 0.5 square meters. The FAB bomb is detected by air defense at a distance of about 60 km or more, while the D-30SN is detected at a maximum range of 30 km. When dropped from an aircraft at a speed of 1250-1350 km/h and an altitude of 12 km, the D-30SN has a range of up to 160 km, with a deviation from the target of up to 5-7 meters.
The Russian Air Force has received another batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers, the number is not reported. The Su-34 aircraft received an updated software and hardware weapons control system for more effective use of guided aerial bombs with UMPK modules. The use of bombs with UMPK allowed the Su-34 to carry out high-altitude patrols and reduce the risk of aircraft being hit by an air defense system.
